5-12-16

Hello birding friends,

I encourage birders at the far southern tip of the state to get out tomorrow (Thursday) morning because moderately high levels of birds are flying into the state from the south; however, they are being forced to make landfall due to the storms that are prevalent in most of the state tonight.

For most of Illinois, storms will limit bird migration tonight; however, there is a chance for rather patchy avian movement once the storms clear out of some areas. Favorable southerly winds are in effect tonight, so it wouldn't hurt to get out tomorrow to check for new arrivals and influxes.

Good birding,
Henry Griffin (Oak Park, Cook County)

5-11-16

Hello birding friends,

Tonight, the entire state is experiencing HEAVY to EXTREMELY HEAVY densities of birds migrating over our skies! Get out tomorrow (Wednesday, May 11) wherever you are! This is the heaviest migration levels I have seen all spring, and possibly the heaviest level I have ever seen for the far southern tip of the state. DEFINITELY get out tomorrow, there should be a MASSIVE turnover!

Good birding!
Henry Griffin (Oak Park, Cook County)

5-9-16

Hello birding friends,

For the northern third of the state, tonight there are moderate to heavy concentrations of birds migrating over our skies, meaning there should be many, many birds around the northern third of the state tomorrow (Monday) and I STRONGLY encourage you to get out if you can.

The central and southern part of Illinois is experiencing little migration tonight due to the rain system; however, the far southern tip of Illinois, which is avoiding the rain for the most part, should see evidence of high levels of migration tomorrow morning.

Happy Mother's Day!
Henry Griffin (Oak Park, Cook County)

5-7-16

Hello birding friends,

Tonight, the entire state of Illinois is experiencing moderately heavy levels of bird migration. With winds out of the west to the west-southwest, it would certainly be a great idea to bird lakefront migrant traps such as Montrose tomorrow morning (Saturday, May 7). Also, there is a possibility for fallout in the northernmost fifth of the state where thundershowers will be intercepting bird migration. So definitely get out tomorrow morning, especially if you are in the northern part of the state! Any day now, the "floodgate" could open - and there is a good possibility that for many parts of the state, tomorrow (Saturday) morning will be it!

Good birding!
Henry Griffin (Oak Park, Cook County)

5-6-16

Hello birding friends,

Tonight, the northern half and southwestern portions of Illinois are experiencing moderate to heavy concentrations of migrating birds. With the light southwesterly winds acting as tailwinds and funneling birds along the lakeshore tonight, I STRONGLY recommend visiting lakefront sites such as Montrose Point tomorrow (Friday, May 6) morning. Any hotspot within the areas of the state mentioned above would certainly be worth checking; however, and I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled on the way to and from school!

Good birding,
Henry Griffin (Oak Park, Cook County)

5-4-16

Hello birding friends,

Today, the southern two-thirds of Illinois should be experiencing moderate to heavy migration levels due to southwesterly winds (while the northern third's migration levels should be limited due to rain showers). So tomorrow (Wednesday, May 4), expect moderate levels of turnover in the southern two-thirds of the state, increasing farther southward.

Good birding,
Henry Griffin (Oak Park, Cook County)

5-3-16

Hello birding friends,

Although winds are from the northwest tonight pretty much across the state, they are much lighter tonight which means that I expect there should be moderate migration statewide. It might be smart to check Lake Michigan lakefront sights such as Montrose tomorrow due to the slight westerly component to the wind which will funnel birds slightly to the shoreline because they don't want to fly out over the lake.

Good birding! So happy it's finally May!

Henry Griffin (Oak Park, Cook County)